What skills and experience we're looking forOur school has undergone an incredible transformation in recent years, achieving.....
What skills and experience we're looking for
Our school has undergone an incredible transformation in recent years, achieving significant milestones across both academic and pastoral realms. We are a vibrant, supportive, and a community that values continuous improvement and innovation, with a focus on providing a well-rounded education that celebrates diversity, nurtures individual strengths, and prepares students for a successful future. Our split-site model allows for collaborative learning and development tailored to meet the unique needs of each stage of education, offering students a smooth and supported transition from primary through secondary years.
There are two exceptional opportunities within our school’s leadership team: Head of School and Executive Headteacher. We are looking for dynamic and committed leaders to continue the outstanding legacy of leadership that has brought our school to new heights, and we are seeking an experienced, visionary Executive Headteacher to lead our ambitious, split-site school, a dynamic and inclusive environment committed to excellence and growth.
As Executive Headteacher, you will play a pivotal role in building upon the achievements of our recent journey, driving forward our vision and guiding the school into its next exciting phase. You will have the opportunity to shape the educational experience of our students, empower and inspire our talented staff, and work closely with our dedicated governing body to ensure sustained success and growth across both sites.
This role is ideal for a leader who is passionate about nurturing student potential, has a track record of delivering positive change, and is ready to lead a school community that is eager to excel. With a competitive salary (with potential adjustment for the right candidate) and the chance to make a lasting impact, this is an exceptional opportunity for a forward-thinking leader.
The successful applicant will:
• Be dynamic, resilient and inspirational leader who has experience within a mainstream or SEN School
• Relentlessly committed to inclusion and finding new and different ways of achieving the very best for our diverse range of students
• Courageous and ambitious with an entrepreneurial and visionary approach
• Understands our values and the needs and importance of local communities
• Has the necessary experience to effectively coach and support two talented Heads of School
If you are ready to help us build on our successes and take our school to new heights, we’d love to hear from you!
What the school offers its staff
Shaw Education Trust offer the following employee benefits with your Teaching or Support Staff employment:
• An excellent Local Government Pension Scheme (Support Staff) / Teachers Pension (Teaching Staff)
• Support Staff only based on working full time, all year - Generous holiday entitlement from your first day of employment (37 days holiday rising to 39 days after 5 years’ service including Bank Holidays)
• Electric Car Scheme: Environmentally friendly vehicles with our electric car scheme.
• Access to Medicash Health & Wellbeing Plan: Enjoy health services designed to support your well-being.
• Free DiscountForTeachers Scheme for all staff (Support and Teaching), Exclusive discounts to save money with a wide selection of discounts and exclusive offers from hundreds of the biggest brands.
• Free Eye Tests
• Cycle to work scheme
• Access to our Institute of Education and fantastic opportunities to help you grow, contribute and flourish in your role and in the Trust.
We know our people are the key to our success and so we’re committed to ensuring the employment experience at Shaw Education Trust is a rewarding one.
Colleagues within the Trust benefit from: Access to a full range of courses both in-house and professionally accredited. These courses include all of the National Professional Qualifications – NPQH, NPQSL, NPQEYL, NPQLL, NPQLT, NPQLTD, NPQLBC are all delivered by the Shaw Education Trust as a delivery partner for Ambition Institute. In addition, we provide access to the NPQEL for Executive Leaders.
• Experienced leadership and subject-specific support.
• Guidance from former HMIs and serving Ofsted Inspectors within the Trust.
• Access to the Trust’s Institute of Education and SCITT.
• Opportunities to work with different schools within the Trust as a Professional Advocate.
• Participating in peer reviews.
• Access to a suite of online courses.
• Placement projects within our family of schools.
Further details about the role
At Portland School, we are dedicated to providing exceptional learning and experiences to pupils with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health Difficulties (SEMHD). Our mission is to empower young minds and nurture futures, ensuring that every student reaches their full potential. We are a split site school with two provisions to meet different needs, one at Trent Vale one at Blythe Bridge. We have an amazing staff team who work tirelessly to support approximately 120 pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs. As a specialist school our pupils benefit from smaller class sizes, a more practical curriculum, access to alternative accreditations and a highly trained staff team. Both sites have spacious grounds allowing us to provide outdoor education, with our Blythe Bridge site boasting specialist classrooms for Design and technology, Art and Design, Science, Food technology and PE.
At the heart of our school are a set of shared values where our entire school community are supported to develop a sense of Respect, Responsibility, Belonging, Independence, show a Team Approach and look after their own Mental Toughness.
Shaw Education Trust are a thriving mix of diverse and growing schools including Primary, Secondary and Special Schools all working together to improve the lives of young people in our communities. We are sponsored by Shaw Trust a charity organisation that focuses on transforming lives. We’re a growing group of dynamically awesome academies providing education to children of all ages and abilities. Staff across our team of schools are dedicated to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to be successful, whatever their starting point in life.
Our Special settings cater for children and young people with a wide range of Special Educational Needs from children with profound medical needs and life limiting conditions, those with severe, moderate and sensory needs through to young people with social emotional and mental health needs that require support and understanding to help them to navigate their world.
Whether you are a teacher, a teaching assistant, a healthcare professional or work in facilities, admin or operations all our Special Schools offer you the opportunity to work within an establishment that has a ‘family’ feel that puts the children, young people and their families at the heart of what they do.
All the pupils within our Special Schools have an individualised education and are educated in small classes and groups with enhanced support to ensure that all their needs are met. There is nothing more rewarding than being part of a team that supports a child or young person with Special Educational Needs to reach their goals. You truly will make a difference to the life of a young person and their family.
Our schools span from Birmingham to Bury, meaning that we can support students from all walks of life, no matter their background or socioeconomic status. In doing this, we can help ensure all children are able to access a high standard of education, with all being treated equally.
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
